Court Report

Custody, probation for assault

The court has sentenced Steven George Ramsey, 32, no fixed address, to a period in custody followed by probation for assaulting an individual.

Ramsey had entered a guilty plea to the charge Feb. 13, 2008. The matter was adjourned to Feb. 28 for sentencing, when Ramsey was sentenced to two months in custody to be followed by 12 months of probation.

Ramsey committed the offence in Greenwood April 20, 2005. The court has reserved jurisdiction on a DNA application.

Possessed stolen property

The court has sentenced Lucas William Hunt, 18, Fall River, for having property in his possession of a value exceeding $5,000, knowing it had been obtained in Canada by the commission of an offence punishable by indictment.

Hunt entered a guilty plea to the charge Dec. 3, 2007 and the matter was adjourned to March 5, 2008 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing. Hunt was sentenced to two months in custody, consecutive to a term presently being served, March 5.

Hunt committed the offence in New Minas Oct. 13, 2007.

Probation, restitution for B&Es

The court has handed Graham Laurie Ward, 21, Woodville, a suspended sentence with probation for 14 counts of break and enter into residences. He has been ordered to pay restitution as well.

Ward entered not guilty pleas to the charges June 11, 2007. However, he changed his pleas to guilty on all counts during a court appearance Jan. 23, 2008 to set a trial date. The matters were adjourned to March 4, 2008 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.

The court gave Ward a suspended sentence with 18 months’ probation. He has been ordered to pay restitution totaling $5,681.83 through the court to eight victims within 18 months, by Sept. 4, 2009. Ward has been ordered to pay the restitution jointly and severally with another individual involved in the break and enters who has already been sentenced.

Ward committed the offences in Coldbrook Dec. 14, 2006.

Used forged documents

The court has handed Mathew James Pelton, 25, Waterville, a suspended sentence with probation for three counts of knowingly using forged documents as if they were genuine. He has been ordered by the court to pay restitution as well.

Pelton entered not guilty pleas to the charges March 5, 2007. A trial date was set for Jan. 22, 2008.

However, Pelton changed his pleas to guilty prior to the scheduled trial Jan. 22. The matters were adjourned to March 4, 2008 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.

Pelton was given a suspended sentence with one year of reporting probation March 4. The court has ordered Pelton to pay restitution to Atlantic Superstore, New Minas, in the amount of $374, and to Foodland, Coldbrook, in the amount of $160 within 10 months, by Jan. 4, 2009.

Pelton committed two of the offences in Coldbrook between Aug. 8 and 10, 2006 and the third in New Minas between Aug. 4 and 28, 2006.

Misled peace officer

The court has fined Chris Arthur Andrews, 35, Kingston, for committing public mischief in that, with intent to mislead, he caused a peace officer to continue an investigation by making a false statement with intent to direct suspicion from himself; driving a motor vehicle while his privilege of obtaining a driver’s license was revoked; driving a motor vehicle without a valid motor vehicle liability policy; operating an unregistered vehicle; and failing without lawful excuse to attend court in accordance with an appearance notice confirmed by a justice.

Andrews entered guilty pleas to the charges March 3. The court fined Andrews $345 or five days in custody on willful default for committing public mischief; $575 or 30 days in custody on willful default for driving a motor vehicle while his privilege of obtaining a driver’s license was revoked; $1,150 or 30 days in custody on willful default for driving a motor vehicle without a valid motor vehicle liability policy; $115 or two days in custody on willful default for operating an unregistered vehicle; and $115 or one day in custody on willful default for failing without lawful excuse to attend court as directed. Andrews has been given until Dec. 21, 2009 to pay the fines.

Andrews committed the offences of committing public mischief and the motor vehicle infractions in Kingston Sept. 20, 2007. He committed the offence of failing to attend court as directed in Kentville Nov. 5, 2007.

Motor vehicle offences

The court has fined James Michael Lupton, 47, North Kingston, for operating a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license; operating an unregistered vehicle; driving without a valid liability policy; and driving a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid inspection sticker.

Lupton entered guilty pleas to the charges March 3, 2008. Lupton was fined $345 or 30 days in custody on willful default for operating a motor vehicle without a valid license; $164.50 or seven days in custody on willful default for operating an unregistered vehicle; $1,150 or 30 days in custody on willful default for driving a motor vehicle required to be registered under the Motor Vehicle Act when there was not a valid liability policy in force; and $115 or two days in custody on willful default for operating a motor vehicle on a highway without a valid inspection sticker. Lupton has been given until Dec. 21, 2009 to pay the fines.

Lupton committed the offences in Kingston Jan. 31, 2008.

No insurance, license

The court has fined John Alexander Vanoostrum, 35, Coldbrook, for driving a motor vehicle without a valid motor vehicle liability policy and for unlawfully driving a motor vehicle while his privilege of obtaining a license was suspended.

The court had entered an automatic conviction against Vanoostrum on the charge of driving without valid insurance Aug. 13, 2007, but struck it Aug. 15, 2007, as Vanoostrum entered a not guilty plea to the charge.

Vanoostrum entered a not guilty plea to the charge of driving while his privilege of obtaining a license was suspended Aug. 13, 2007. The matters were adjourned to March 4, 2008 for trial.

However, Vanoostrum changed his pleas to guilty on both charges March 4 prior to the scheduled trial. The court fined Vanoostrum a total of $1,250 with no default for driving without valid insurance and a total of $575 with no default for driving while his privilege of obtaining a license was suspended. He has been given until Oct. 27, 2008 to pay the fines.

Vanoostrum committed the offences in Kentville July 1, 2007.

Refused breathalyzer

The court has fined Charles Dunphy Douglas, 20, Wolfville, for failing without reasonable excuse to comply with a demand to provide a sample of his breath for analysis.

Douglas entered a not guilty plea to the charge Dec. 10, 2007 and the matter was adjourned to March 5, 2008 for trial. Douglas was found guilty following the trial March 5 and was fined a total of $977.50.

He has been given until July 28, 2008 to pay or spend 16 days in custody on willful default. The court has imposed also a one-year driving prohibition against Douglas.

Douglas committed the offence in Wolfville Oct. 13, 2007 when, without reasonable excuse, he failed to comply with a demand made to him by a peace officer to provide a sample of his breath, as in the opinion of the peace officer was necessary to enable a proper analysis of his breath to be made by means of an approved screening device.

Over limit, no insurance

The court has fined Gillis Andrew Keddy, 48, Kentville, for having care or control of a motor vehicle having consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the concentration in his blood exceeded the legal limit, and for operating a motor vehicle without a motor vehicle liability policy.

Keddy entered guilty pleas to the charges March 5, 2008. The court fined Keddy a total of $1,380 or 22 days in custody on willful default for having care or control of a motor vehicle while his blood alcohol level exceeded the legal limit. The court imposed a two-year driving prohibition against him.

Keddy was fined a total of $1,150 with no default for operating a motor vehicle without a motor vehicle liability policy. He has been given until Feb. 23, 2009 to pay the fines.

Keddy committed the offences at Wolfville Ridge Dec. 5, 2007 when he was found to be operating a motor vehicle without a valid liability policy and to have care or control of a motor vehicle having consumed alcohol in such a quantity that the concentration in his blood exceeded 80 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood, the legal limit. Keddy gave breathalyzer readings of 160 and 180.

Drove unlicensed

The court has fined Maynard Harris Atwell, 56, Aldershot, for unlawfully driving a motor vehicle while his privilege of obtaining a license was revoked.

Atwell’s son appeared in court and entered a guilty plea on Atwell’s behalf March 3, 2008. The court fined Atwell a total of $1,150. The court has given Atwell until Dec. 21, 2009 to pay the fine or spend 30 days in custody on willful default.

Atwell committed the offence in Kentville Feb. 1, 2008.

Drove while disqualified

The court has fined Jesse Joseph Parsons, 25, Kingston, for operating a motor vehicle while disqualified from doing so.

Parsons entered a guilty plea to the charge March 3, 2008. The court fined Parsons a total of $1,150. He has been given until Nov. 24, 2008 to pay or spend 18 days in custody on willful default. The court imposed a one-year, Canada-wide driving prohibition order against him.

Parsons committed the offence at 14 Wing Greenwood Jan. 12, 2008.

Obstructed peace officer, damaged property

The court has handed Matthew Bruce MacDonald, 22, Stayner, Ontario, a conditional discharge with a period of probation for willfully obstructing a peace officer engaged in the lawful execution of his duty and for willfully damaging the property of Her Majesty the Queen in the Right of Canada to a value not exceeding $5,000.

MacDonald entered guilty pleas to the charges Feb. 20, 2008. The matters were adjourned to March 5, 2008 for sentencing. MacDonald was given a conditional discharge with one month of non-reporting probation March 5.

The court has ordered MacDonald to pay $79.80 in restitution to the Kings District RCMP. MacDonald committed the offences in Wolfville Oct. 13, 2007.

Resisted peace officer

The court has fined Norman Glendon Leggett, 24, Dorchester Penitentiary, and sentenced him to a period of probation for resisting a peace officer engaged in the lawful execution of his duty.

Leggett entered a not guilty plea to the charge July 23, 2007. The matter was adjourned to Jan. 23, 2008 for trial. Leggett changed his plea to guilty prior to the scheduled trial. The matter was adjourned to March 5, 2008 to allow time for a pre-sentence report to be prepared and for sentencing.

Leggett was fined a total of $345 and sentenced to six months of non-reporting probation. He has been given until July 30, 2008 to pay or spend five days in custody on willful default.

Leggett committed the offence in Kentville March 13, 2007.

Stole property

The court has handed Andrew James MacInnes, 20, north Kentville, a conditional discharge with probation for stealing property from a store of a value not exceeding $5,000.

MacInnes entered a guilty plea to the charge March 3, 2008. He was handed a conditional discharge with three months’ probation.

MacInnes committed the offence in New Minas Jan. 19, 2008 when he stole the property of Zellers Incorporated.

In other court matters…

The court has fined Zabrina Theresa Isles, 28, Bear River, for driving in excess of the posted speed limit.

Isles entered a guilty plea to the charge and applied for a remission of penalty March 3, 2008. Judge Claudine MacDonald did not grant the application for remission of penalty, but Isles was given more time to pay.

Isles was fined a total of $394.50, with no default, and has been given until May 26, 2008 to pay.

Isles committed the offence in Avonport Feb. 8, 2008 when she drove at a speed exceeding the posted speed limit by 31 km/h or more.